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Refinishing a Muffler

I saw a question similar to this so I'll ask my more specific question...
I had my mufflers painted silver. They were rusting and they are from an old unique car that is hard to get mufflers for. I had one of the connector arms reattached and some small holes welded closed. And then they painted over them. I am not sure they used high temp paint. Is there a possibility for the dry paint to ignite? That would be a complete disaster of course. Should I stripe them and get them coated in ceramic or high temp paint or leave them bare metal? They originally looked like they had some thin silver coating. It's a 1978.
Thanks,
Chance

Chance Roth
hobby - San Diego, California, USA
2005

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First of two simultaneous responses --

Firstly, from personal experience way back when I was 18, the paint will burn itself off without a fire on a muffler (if on a catalytic converter I'm not sure since this runs at a much higher temperature than a muffler).
Secondly, from my time in the old car hobby I can tell you that either new old stock or new reproduction mufflers and exhaust components are available for even 75 year old cars.

Try looking in a hobby magazine like Hemmings Motor News or Old Cars Weekly [affil link to Amazonaffil links] for vendors.

Personally, I think you should put your money into a new replacement constructed of stainless steel.

Gene Packman
process supplier - Great Neck, New York
2005

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

It is unlikely that a layer of dried paint will ignite, however it may smoke and stink as it decomposes. You could ask what paint was used. What 1978 car is it difficult to find a new muffler for?

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2005

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First of two simultaneous responses --

hard to get=expensive :-)

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2005

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Second of two simultaneous responses -- 2005

The mufflers were probably aluminized steel. Knowing the application, perhaps the welder used a Federal spec. QPL-TT-P-28-18 paint -- "an aluminum, heat-resistant paint that will withstand solvents, normal weather exposure, and temperatures to 1200 F."

Catalogs also list stainless steel coatings (SS flake pigment) for temperatures as high as 1200 F.

Identify the present paint. If unsuitable, have a powder coating shop with a burn-off oven remove it and abrasive blast any residue. Apply a suitable high temperature paint [affil links].

As recommended above, a new muffler might be a better choice.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California
Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.